The Simple Test That Reveals a Great Private Swim Coach

When you're choosing a private swim coach for your child, you look for the right credentials: a valid certification, a friendly personality, good reviews. But what if we told you there's a simple, five-second test that can reveal more about a coach's true expertise than any certificate can?

It's the demonstration.

As a team of former competitive swimmers, we can spot a novice coach from the other side of the pool just by watching them demonstrate a stroke. And we believe it's time to be honest with parents about what we're seeing. We often see coaches who take this critical teaching tool lightly, giving lazy, incomplete demonstrations, or worse—demonstrating a technique they themselves have not mastered.

This isn't just a small detail; it's a fundamental flaw that can hinder your child's progress and build bad habits. This guide is our "insider's take" on why a proper demonstration is non-negotiable, and how you, as a parent, can spot the difference.

Why Demonstration is So Crucial for Children

Children, especially young ones, are primarily visual learners. Their brains are wired to mirror what they see. When a coach talks about a "high elbow" or a "hip-driven kick," these are abstract concepts. But when a coach slips into the water and performs a smooth, powerful, and technically correct freestyle, the child's brain gets a clear, powerful mental blueprint of the goal.

A great demonstration does two things:

1. It provides a clear visual target. The child now knows what "right" looks and feels like.

2. It inspires confidence. When a child sees their coach move through the water with grace and power, it builds respect and a belief that they, too, can achieve that.

The Two Types of Bad Demonstrations (And Why They're Harmful)

The problem is that many coaches in the industry fall into one of two traps, both of which are detrimental to a child's learning.

1. The "Lazy" or "Half-Effort" Demonstration: This is when a coach, perhaps to avoid getting their hair wet or because they are simply going through the motions, performs a sloppy, incomplete version of the stroke. They might do a few arm pulls while standing, or a weak kick. This sends a terrible message to the child: that this is not a skill that requires precision or respect. It devalues the entire lesson.

2. The "Technically Incorrect" Demonstration: This is far more dangerous. This happens when a coach has a certificate but has never truly mastered the mechanics of swimming themselves. They might demonstrate a freestyle with a dropped elbow or a breaststroke kick that is all knee and no hip. A child, being a great mimic, will copy this flawed movement exactly. The coach is now actively teaching a bad habit, ingraining incorrect muscle memory that can take months or even years of expert coaching to fix later on.

Your "Insider" Test: How to Spot a True Professional

You don't need to be a swimming expert to assess a coach's ability. You just need to know what to ask. At your trial lesson, we encourage you to make this simple request:

"Could you please swim one lap of freestyle for my child to see?"

A true professional will be delighted to do so. A novice or unconfident coach might make an excuse. When they swim, you're not looking for Olympic speed. You're looking for one thing: effortlessness.

Does the stroke look smooth, fluid, and powerful? Do they glide through the water? Or does it look clumsy, splashy, and labored? A coach who has mastered the sport makes it look easy. A coach who hasn't, cannot hide it.

The Dreamer's Standard: We Practice What We Preach

Choosing a private swim coach is an act of trust. You are trusting them to be the role model for your child's physical development. We urge you to choose a coach who can not only talk about a great swim stroke, but can actually show you one.